Let Freedom Ring

By Colleen Walsh Fong

Are you free?

Technically if you live in the United States and are not incarcerated you are free. All the world’s peoples do not enjoy this privilege. We cherish our freedom, as we should. But like most things in life freedom is a grey area. A more accurate way to describe our state of freedom is that we are free to make choices, but bound by their consequences.

Take freedom from responsibility, a popular objective of the beat and hippie movements inspired by Jack Kerouac and others. Proponents derided the idea of enslaving themselves to the “system” or the “man” and eschewed regular 9-5 jobs for the freedom to roam the land or live communally in self-sufficient units. That brought freedom from the constraints of traditional employer-employee jobs. And also brought the consequential responsibilities of either working a 19th century type subsistence farm or picking up odd jobs as needed for food and shelter.

Sexual freedom was another big part of those movements. And it brought rewards and consequences, too.

No matter what we choose to be free of there will always be a corresponding consequence. Self-employment let’s you lose the boss, but you also lose any benefits and the payment of half of the social security taxes the employee designation brings.

Low-stress jobs may bring relief from stress and more family time, but yield lower compensation.

High school grads eager to leave teachers and books forever behind will not possess a college degree.

Young adults fleeing their parents’ homes will gain the freedom to live by their own rules and the responsibility to foot the bill.

Choices will have different appeal based upon which rung of the economic ladder one occupies. The child of a business executive may find the choice to earn a college degree a more attractive one than the child of parents with fewer financial resources. It’s easier to opt for a college degree fully funded by mom and dad than one that will leave a young adult with mountains of debt to repay.

We each have to weigh the consequences of our major life choices against their rewards.

Likewise there is a corresponding consequence for each freedom we American citizens possess. The right to vote means that we live with the outcome, like it or not, while respecting the offices of those elected and the decisions they make within the constraints of their constitutional authorities.

Our freedom to choose religious affiliations means we must honor the choices of others, including those who choose none.

Our freedom of speech means we must give the floor to those we don’t agree with, although we can choose not to listen.

For Whom Does the Liberty Bell Toll?

Are some of us freer than others?

Theoretically no. Practically of course! Those with physical and mental limitations often have fewer options than those who don’t.

A child born into poverty will not have the freedom to opt for private school education. A person who can’t afford a car has fewer transportation and travel options. Is this the result of freedom of choice? Yes. But whose choice? Certainly not a baby’s, but perhaps his parents, ancestors, lawmakers, or even the framers of our Constitution.

Are people of different ethnicities, genders, religions, races, ages, sexual preferences, and colors equally free? While some protections for most of these groups are given under federal law and some states’ laws, widespread discussion ensues about what groups deserve what freedoms.  

In between our barbecues and fireworks celebrations this July 4th, we should think about these things.

John Donne famously said in his Meditation XVII, “…never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Does The Liberty Bell toll for you?

Image Courtesy of nixxphotography / FreeDigitalPhotos.net